BEIRUT: If you’ve ever spent your lunch break alone or in front of a computer, maybe it’s time to take back the afternoon meal with COlunching.First started in Paris and recently founded in Beirut, COlunching is a growing social network bringing people together over their lunch breaks and other meals to make new connections and discover restaurants in the city.

“The motto is ‘feed your network,’ which means meeting new people and discovering new restaurants,” explained COlunching Beirut founder Danielle Aznavourian.

“It’s a good way for socializing, for meeting people and pushing people away from their desks, connecting friends in your virtual life with your real life.”

Aznavourian brought COlunching to Beirut in October of last year after her experience attending a colunch in Paris, where the concept began in 2010. At this lunch Aznavourian met the co-founder of the network, Sonia Zannad, who encouraged her to establish COlunching in Beirut, bringing Lebanon into the global network which also includes France, the U.S., and Australia.

“I liked the idea a lot because it brings people together, even if you’re an expatriate, a tourist, a mom at home, a student you can join,” Aznavourian told The Daily Star at the most recent colunch she organized at L’eau a la Bouche in Tabaris Wednesday.

The seven colunchers in attendance enthusiastically agreed that the best aspect of COlunching was the opportunity to meet new people outside of the normal circle.

“You broaden your network. It’s nice not going out with the same group of people all the time,” said Tina Boustani, a finance manager attending her third colunch.

Zeina Torbey, who works in communications, agreed: “It’s a socializing network on a personal level but sometimes you also get professional contacts. It’s good for both.”

She said COlunching was a natural match for the culture of Lebanon.

“Lebanese are very warm and social people so [COlunching] fits well because society here is more of a socializing society. We do more things together than alone,” said Torbey.

Aznavourian, a “power coluncher,” as the network’s organizers are known, puts together one or two colunches a week. She scouts out restaurants and often organizes special formulas for the diners, describing the events as a chance for “food discovery” as well as making new acquaintances.

Colunchers gather in small groups of two up to 10.

“It’s a small group because most of the people don’t know each other and it’s better to mingle and for communication. You have to bear in mind, it’s a lunch break so you don’t want it to be too much,” Aznavourian noted.

But the network is not limited to lunch – she also organizes cobrunching on the weekends, and, most recently, cowining where the group mingled over drinks. There are also thematic events planned like cooking and wine-tasting classes.

Aznavourian says that the appeal is booming in Beirut.

“Since February one person has been joining a day, though not all those that registered have attended a colunch yet,” she said.

The colunchers Wednesday shared a gregarious meal despite working in different fields – banking, finance, communications. Some also did not work and one was on vacation in Lebanon, travelling from Paris.

“Wherever you are you can join a colunch,” Aznavourian says, adding that it makes a great network for business travelers or people new to a city.

“Food gathers people. Like art and music, it makes people come together.”

For more information visit the colunching website: http://www.facebook.com/colunching.lb. Or register at www.colunching.com